Clerics can't heal (NPCs)?

[Derren]

I just noticed (after a discussion about the power of the healing gods on the WotC boards) that the cleric, who imo should be the best at healing others has hardly any ability to heal NPCs at level 1.
Thats because NPCs do not have Healing Surges and the clerics Healing Word uses the targets surges. That means the only thing the cleric can do is to temporary heal a NPC by smiting someone with holy fire (not very appropriate when you for example want to heal someones broken leg outside of combat).

Maybe the cleric gets abilities which let him use his own surges like the paladins Lay on Hands later but I still think its strange that clerics can't heal most people at level 1. It also makes a good "destiny detector" When someone can be healed by Healing Word he is special (has Healing Surges) and the chance of raising him successfully is rather high.

I know that I can houserule it by giving NPCs Healing Surges or simply rule that the cleric can heal NPCs completely but I still think its funny.

 

[Bayonet_Chris]

Not all of the information

Well, healing word is a combat heal. I would imagine there is some ritual or other non-combat application of healing that can be used. We don't know because we don't have all of the rules yet.

 

[mmaranda]

Who said NPCs don't have healing surges?

Or it may be that detailed healing like mending a broken leg is a ritual and not something a quick "combat" healing can do.

 

[Derren]

Who said NPCs don't have healing surges?

Their statblock

Or it may be that detailed healing like mending a broken leg is a ritual and not something a quick "combat" healing can do.

Then how about a "combat wound"? Still not healable by a cleric.

 

[Satori5000]

I would be disappointed if clerics couldnt heal NPC's. Even though i am pretty sure there are going to be rules for it, it wouldnt be a big deal for a DM to make something up for it.

 

[Chris_Nightwing]

I suspect the Heal skill would cover mundane injuries of mundane NPCs.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

rituals....

 

[keterys]

Curious: Is it okay if the warlord can't heal NPCs?

Ie, is it just that clerics can't that's the problem? I wish we knew more about rituals.

 

[Derren]

I suspect the Heal skill would cover mundane injuries of mundane NPCs.

But then the question arises why the PCs also can't use the heal skill to fix themselves up after a fight and instead have to waste Healing Surges to do it?

Another strange thing. Many people speculate that healing potions won't heal you, but instead allows you to use a healing surge. If that turns out to be true then healing potions would have no effect on NPCs.

Curious: Is it okay if the warlord can't heal NPCs?

Ie, is it just that clerics can't that's the problem? I wish we knew more about rituals.

I haven't seen the warlords "healing" abilities. But I think its more reasonable to say that a warlords martial "Get back on your feet soldier!" healing does not work on everyone than saying that divine healing magic coming directly from the gods can only heal a very small number of people in the world.

Maybe a ritual would solve this problem, but I have the feeling there won't be a healing ritual as it would be unnecessary for PCs as they can trade healing surges for HP after the battle. And if the ritual exists then there will be a huge difference in staying power of groups which can use the ritual to heal and the group which has to trade healing surges for it.

 

[Bayonet_Chris]

Elephant

I'm sure most of you are familiar with the story of the three blind men and the elephant. This is the same situation. Fourth edition is an elephant and we're getting only bits and pieces of it and using those bits to make broad, sweeping generalizations about it.

In other words, we are currently grabbing hold of the tusks and proclaiming "This beast has no rectum! How can it poop? Oh my god, it can't poop!"

Just because you currently don't see a way for something to happen based on what little information we have doesn't mean it can't happen. What purpose does it serve to get everyone spun up about it?